This year’s event was the biggest turkey donation since its inception. Eventually, 105 turkeys were presented to Operation Upward and the Mississippi Food Network.

Rafael Ordaz, coordinator of JSU’s Athletic Academic Advising, said, “This was a collective effort, and I am proud to say that 46 of these turkeys came from the Division of Athletics and its different components.”

Furthermore, he said, “We had participation from most of our athletic teams, and we had many student-athletes who came to the office to help out by collecting the turkeys and delivering them to the different organizations.”

The Division of Athletics collected the most turkeys. It was followed by the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education (22), which will be honored at a basketball game in the spring.

Student-athletes join children from Kids College admiring the collection of turkeys.